Gown worn by three generations
Kate Hill has walked across the stage in an academic gown worn by her father and her grandmother, to claim her doctorate in veterinary science.
The family gown was first worn by her nan Valerie Gardiner from 1922 to 1926, while she studied for a Bachelor in Science at the University of Sydney.
Gardiner was one of few women to undertake a science degree in that era, and in those days gowns were worn every day for lectures. Gardiner’s son Brian Hill then wore it through six years of medical school in Brisbane, and also wore it daily – for evening meals at his college hall.
‘‘It’s travelled around a bit,’’ he said. ‘‘The thing that’s always impressed me is that people have been sitting in it all that time, and the backside is still in good condition.’’
All five of his children have graduated from university, and all but one wore the gown to collect their qualifications.
Next year the gown will re-cross the Tasman to be worn by a fourth generation, when the first of Brian’s grandchildren graduate.
‘‘It’s always nice to have it, it’s a very good family tradition,’’ said Kate Hill, who graduated from Massey University last week.
The gown is still in good condition, and Massey academic staff have advised how to preserve it by keeping it wrapped in cotton and stored safely.
Gardiner co-published an academic paper on Great Barrier Reef coral and taught at private schools for a short time, before marrying and taking up voluntary work.
‘‘She was always very proud that she was a graduate, and particularly a science graduate,’’ Kate Hill said.
‘‘I can remember she showed us how to dissect a frog on the kitchen table,’’ Brian Hill said.
The family was strongly supportive of higher learning, with particular interest in science and animals.
‘‘I did my first show and tell at school on a calf autopsy, at the age of six, with photos,’’ Kate Hill said. ‘‘I think the teacher was appalled.’’
‘‘My brother [now a professor of vet science] had been studying, and got me to hold the icky bits and thought I’d run away, but I was still there holding the bucket.’’
Kate Hill’s research for her doctorate has already been put to use widely throughout New Zealand, and in many places internationally.
She proved a new way to deliver medicine for treating one of the most common long-term illnesses in elderly cats – hyperthyroidism.
The illness is caused by overproduction of thyroid hormone, which can be suppressed with medicine but must be taken for the rest of the cat’s life.
It was traditionally given as a pill, but ‘‘it’s hard to pill cats’’. Her trials proved the medicine could be absorbed effectively through the skin, and if rubbed inside the cat’s ear it would not be cleaned away by the cat.
She is presently taking a break after five years of part time study, juggled while raising three young children, but plans to continue research and teaching in the future.